steamomg bent limb

[ejwitman]

I am working on a hickory stave. I left the stave dry for a month in the truck. I then reduced it to rough shape and put it in the car for ten days while on vacation. Upon returning the one limb took a sideways banana bend (approx 3" out at nock.) I steamed the limb for 45 minutes and tried to bend it back. I worked a little on tillering today and the limb returned about 1" out. I am afraid to resteam the limb since I understand this is not a good practice. The string at this point would run on the edge of my handle. Should I steam the handle this time and try to align the string down the center. Thank you for the help.

[bigcountry]

I never have good luck steaming or heating out a side to side bend in a limb unless I keep it thicker than it is wide before floor tillering, and even then not much luck.  I would bend it in the handle.

[George Tsoukalas]

Can you show a picture? Did you leave the nocks wide? The handle wide? That's always a good idea. You can track the string better. Jawge

[ranger 3]

Dry wood dry heat with some oil

[ejwitman]

Thank you guys.  Not sure of the physics behind dry wood, dry heat but never doubt those in the know.  If I grease the handle area with crisco and put it in the gas grill on low indirect heat how do I judge when to put it in the clamps?  No I ignored the info on leaving nock and handle wood.  I am one of those thick Pennsylvania Deutch types that has to learn from failure.

[ranger 3]

If your wood is dry then you can use any cooking oil. Just wipe it on and heat with a heat guy and keep it moving so not to scorch the wood. When it is to hot to touch them start bending very slow till you get it a little past where you want to be and clamp till cool.

[Pat B]

If you have a form to clamp your bow to it and use dry heat without oil but only on the belly. When you get the crooks worked out(clamps and wedges) and while it is still on the form, "toast" the belly with your heat gun. Char it until the wood is brown in color. After you do this, let it rest a week to rehydrate before you remove it from the form.
  When you adjust the bends, over correct them by a little because the wood will come back some when released.